Stilt



1 3, 1931- c. PETERSEN 1,791,324

STILT Filed Aug. 12, 1929 Ill/ll 1! //l III/lid lave/lionClerislianfielens'en.

Milo/way,

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE STILTApplication filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,097.

The invention hereinafter to be described relates, in general terms, totoys, but more particularly pertains to that well known amusement devicefor childrena stilt.

It is quite the usual thing for boys to make their ownstilts and it is,possibly, for this reason that there has-been no markedchange orimprovement in the form of the device since the earliest times. 1

When the boy is learning to walk with stilts he usually is content tohave the steps located on the supporting legs at a comparatively shortdistance from the ground, but as he gains confidence in his ability tosafely use them heis very likely to remove the steps and nail orotherwise secure them at a higher elevation on the legs.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a stilt thestep of which is so constructed as to be readily and convenientlypositioned from one to another location on the stilt leg without thenecessity of removingbolts, screws or other devices in order to make thechange, thus providing a stilt adaptable for'use by boys of various agesand sizes and constituting, to all intents andpurposes, a combination'ofseveral stilts in one. f

Afurther object is to supply a simple, operative device to secure thestep in place on the leg of the stilt, providing a safety feature inthat in one way only can the step be disengaged, the operation requiringthe user to dismount to'make the change.

The character of my invention may best be understood by reference to thedescription found in. the following specification when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which is disclosed anillustrative embodiment of the device which,

other possible forms in which the invention might be carried out. I Inthe drawing-,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a stilt leg with my improved stepmounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4: are views depicting the pro line (#6, Fig. 4, and

y Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the yoke employed to secure the stepon the leg.

Similar reference characters are used to identify like parts in all thedifferent views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the leg of the stilt, a portiononly of which is shown, 2 is the step therefor and 3 is the yoke whichsecures the step to the leg of the stilt.

The step may be made plain, as illustrated, or it may be provided with atoe hold (not shown), which latter, however, introduces an element ofdanger in that it is somewhat difiicult for the user of the stilt, incase he trips or stumbles, to easily clear his feet from the steps-witha consequent likelihood of taking a fall.

The yoke 8 is pivotally secured to the step by a rivet 4 which passesthrough holes 5 in the sides of the yoke and a hole 6 in'the step, andthe ends are headed over'to secure the rivet in place.

Spaced from, the rivet 4 and extending through the full width of thestep is a metallie bushing 7 within which operate the two plungers 8, 8,having rounded outer ends which engage the depressions 9, 9,respectively, in the sides of the yoke. A spring 10 yieldin'gly holdsthe plungers in engagement withthe depressions or seats.

On the outer side of the leg 1 are upwardly directed, angularly disposedslots '11, a sufficient number being provided to give ample at thepresent time, I consider preferable to Yscope to the adwstablhty of theSteps Projecting downwardly at an angle from the transverse portion 8 ofthe yoke is a tongue 12 which is adapted to engage any one of theserespective slots 11 when the yoke is positioned adjacent thereto andhold the step against downward movement on the leg of the stilt, as seenin Fig. 1.

The stilts may now be safely used, in pairs, and'when in use the weightof the person, of

course, insures the parts being kept in place. While being handled, asin transportation, the facilities provided in the yoke preventdislodgment of these parts from their normal positions on the legs.

In case, iowever, the boy user Wishes to make a change in the elevationof the steps on the legs, he proceeds as follows to accomplish thisobject.

First, the step is forcibly pulled away from the leg in a directionindicated by the arrou A in Fig. 1. This has the effect of moving thepins 8 out of their seat in the depressions 9 and leaves their endsabutting on the flat inner sides of the yoke 3as seen in Figs, 3 and 6.

Next, by moving the step and yoke in the direction ofthe arrow B (seeFig. 3) the parts will be brought into the position as illustrated in Fig. d, in which position the two parts 2 and 3 may easily be moved ineither direction on the leg of the stilt, longitudinally thereof.

When the tongue 12 is abreast of the slot 11 adjacent which it isdesired to locate the step, then the operation just outlined isperformed, in reverse order, and the parts returned to their normalworking positions, as

depicted in Fig. 1.

To prevent displacement of the yoke and step from the leg a pin 13 islocated above and below the plurality of the slots 11 (the lower pin notbeing shown), the space between the pins covering the range of possibleadjustments of the yoke on the leg.

l he mechanism having to do with the adjustments of the steps on thelegs of the stilt is ver simply constructed, requires no tools orimplements with which to change the position of the steps andnecessitates a very spe cific combination of movements to be made inorder to make this change.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A stilt comprising a leg, an inclined slot on the outer side of saidleg, opening upwardly, a step disposed on the inside of said leg, a yokeencompassing said step and pivotally connected thereto near the inneredge thereof, a tongue on the transverse portion of said yoke, disposedat an angle coincident with the angle of said slot and adapted to engagethe lower side of said slot, and means to yieldingly hold said yokeagainst rotation on its pivot.

2. A stilt comprising a leg, a plurality of obliquely cut slots on theouter side of said leg, said slots opening upwardly, a yoke surroundingthree sides of said leg and two sides of said step, means to pivotallyconnect said yoke to said step, an inwardly and downwardly inclinedtongue on the transverse portion of said yoke adapted to loosely engageeither one of said slots and disposed at the same angle thereas, adepression on each inner side of said yoke, adjacent said step, a pinprojecting from each side of said step and adapted to engage,respectively, said depressions, and a spring disposed between said pinsand acting to forcibly hold them in yieldin engagement,respectively,'with said depressions.

3, A stilt comprising a log, a plurality of inclined slots on the outerside of said leg, opening upwardly, a step disposed adjacent the innerside of said leg, a yoke embracing said leg and pivotally connected tosaid step, means to yieldingly secure said yoke against rotation in itspivot, and means on said yoke adaptable of engagement with any one ofsaid slots to positively hold said step against longitudinal movement onsaid leg in a direction toward the foot thereof, said holding m ansbeing of such character as requires, to release said step, the rotationof said yoke on its pivot, acting in opposition to the said firstmentioned means.

i. A stilt comprising a leg, a plurality of inclined, upwardly openinslots disposed on he outer side of said leg, a step positioned on theinner side of said leg in abutting but non-fined relation thereto, ayoke straddling said leg and said step, a pin adapted to pivotallyconnect said yoke to said step, a depression on each inner side of saidyoke, adjacent said step, a bushing in said step, a plunger projectingfrom each end of said bushing, said plungers adapted, respectively, toengage the said depressions when said step and said leg are abutting, aspring interjacent said plungers, a tongue depending from the transverseportion of said yoke and disposed at the same inclination as are saidslots and adapted to engage, singly, either as thereof, and a stop pinlocated on said leg above and. below the maximum range of movement ofsaid yoke on said le In testimony whereof I am my signature.

G'Hl't l STIAN PETER SEN.

